The iPad 3 is the latest tablet offered by Apple, the company that invented the tablet concept a few years back with the original iPad. Since then, the iPad has been through a few revisions, and the latest device is bigger and better than the original in all ways – which is exactly what you’d expect.
While Apple have been busy improving the iPad, however, a host of other rival tablets have cropped up that offer similar features and technology. The question we all want to know the answer to now is, how does the iPad 3 stand up against the competition, and is it worth buying? Let’s find out.
Key Specs For The iPad 3
RRP: $499-$829
Release Year: 2012
Operating System: Apple iOS
Display Size: 9.7 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi+ 4G
Cameras: 5 MP, 0.3 MP
Battery Life: 10 hours
iPad 3: The Pros
16GB / 32GB / 64GB Versions: Like most tablets, the iPad 3 comes in several different versions. In terms of storage capacity, there are 3 options – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Offering three different storage options is something no company other than Apple is currently doing with tablets. That gives them the advantage of competing with all of their rivals, whether they’re offering 16GB and 32GB options, or 32GB and 64GB options.
The three different options have the obvious benefits and drawbacks that come with either small or large storage capacity. This mainly boils down to a price trade-off. The smallest storage option is cheaper, the largest the most expensive. So if you’re looking to save money you’ll go for the bottom option, while if your budget’s unlimited you can go for the top option. Then there’s the in-between option for those with a budget that won’t stretch to the top but still goes further than the basic.
Wi-Fi And Wi-Fi + Cellular Options: In addition to the three storage options, the iPad 3 is also unique in offering both a standard Wi-Fi option and a Wi-Fi + cellular option. The cellular addition supports 4G connectivity while out and about, meaning you can stream movies wherever you are – even out in the middle of a field if you’ve got network coverage.
The Wi-Fi only option is, naturally, the cheaper choice. By contrast, the Wi-Fi + Cellular option costs significantly more, and after that you also have to pay the contract fee for cellular connectivity. This isn’t cheap, but it is currently something only offered by one or two tablets, and gives you the unique ability to stream content without a wireless connection.
The cellular service for the iPad 3 is currently offered by only two providers (with their own plans): AT&T and Verizon. Check out the plans on Apple’s website to see which provider would suit you better.
Speed: Of course, the iPad 3 competes well with its rivals in terms of speed. You won’t feel like this tablet is lagging behind at all. Everything from start-up to menu navigation is a fast and smooth experience, helping to maintain the very high level of user experience that has built the Apple empire.
Rear-Facing Camera: The rear facing camera on the iPad 3 weighs in at 5MP and delivers very high quality images. Although it’s not the highest resolution camera on a tablet (there are 8MP tablet cameras out there) it offers a comparably detailed image. You’ll not have any complaints with the images that the iPad 3 turns out – if you do, you ought to go out any buy a dedicated digital camera because you won’t find anything better on a tablet.
1080p Video Recording: Another great feature of the rear-facing camera is the 1080p recording quality. That’s full HD quality, which means you can play your videos back on an HD TV in full-screen and enjoy incredible detail.
Image Quality: Image quality on the iPad 3 is definitely in the leading class, matching all rivals. This is thanks to the Retina display technology that offers 4 times as many pixels as the iPad 2. This makes for extremely crisp and clean images that are great for photos, videos and games.
GPS: 4G models of the iPad 3 (those that include cellular connectivity) offer true GPS technology. That means you can use it as a navigation tool when on the road.
iPad 3: The Cons
No Flash Support: The perennial problem with the iPad, and all Apple products, is the lack of Flash support. This is a truly frustrating, and even debilitating, flaw that Apple products suffer from due to a clash of business interests. Apple themselves do not see it as a problem, rather a design choice. This doesn't change the issue for consumers, however.
In practical terms, the lack of Flash support will leave you struggling to make full use of many websites which are Flash-reliant. One example is the streaming content on Amazon which requires Flash. No Flash, no Amazon streaming video.
This is probably the single greatest stumbling block for all Apple devices, and it’s enough to put off many potential users (and even existing owners who get fed up with the problem). It’s by no means a fatal flaw – Apple products still do well despite this major annoyance, and they use alternative means to deliver video from sites like YouTube. But for some users it could be a deal-breaker.
No MicroSD Slot: Apple like to keep their products minimal and simplistic - it’s a part of their design ethos. Unfortunately, this has practical implications for users who like increased functionality. If you want to make use of a microSD card, whether for data transfer or increased memory storage (as on many other tablets), you won’t be able to as the iPad 3 has no microSD slots.
Is The iPad 3 Worth Buying?
Summing up, the iPad 3 is one of the best, if not the best, tablets available. The competition is strong, especially in the Asus Transformer Prime, but the iPad 3 has a number of advantages that make still make it the top choice for a tablet on most accounts. Just be prepared for the lack of Flash support that will noticeably hamper your web browsing experience.
]]>Samsung has really tried hard to conquer the tablet market, doing everything it can to rival or outdo the iPad. While the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and more recently the Galaxy Tab 2 have been the flagship contenders for Samsung, a somewhat overlooked tablet also offered by Samsung is the Galaxy Note. It’s a superior device to the Galaxy Tab 2 in nearly all ways, and looks like much more of a challenge to Apple’s dominance. So let’s see whether it’s a worthwhile purchase.
Key Specs For The Samsung Galaxy Note
RRP: $499-$549
Release Year: 2012
Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Display Size: 10.1 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
Cameras: 8 MP, 1.9 MP
Battery Life: 10 hours
Samsung Galaxy Note: The Pros
Fast: The first point to make about the Galaxy Note is that it’s fast. Not quite as fast as the iPad 3 sure, but not far behind. You’re unlikely to notice the difference. So whether you’re a gamer or just a casual user, you’ll find things keep on going without a moment’s hesitation.
There’s no lag, menu navigation and animation is seamless, web browsing is fast with pages taking no time to load. Basically, you really don’t need a faster tablet right now – it does everything there is to do just fine.
Multitasking: As with many new high-end tablets, the Galaxy Note has a quad-core processor. Not only does this make the device faster, but it also makes it better able to handle multiple applications at once. That means it’s great for anyone who likes to multitask on their tablet. You want to take notes while listening to music? No problem. You want to watch a movie while browsing the web? Go right ahead. This is a high-functioning device that delivers.
16GB Or 32GB Options: The Galaxy Note has two different storage options: 16GB and 32GB. The 16GB option is good for those who don’t store much on their tablet, using cloud-based storage for the majority of their data.
The 32GB version offers a fairly standard storage capacity that competes with the iPad 3’s smaller option, as well as the majority of high-end Android tablets. Most users will find 32GB a sufficient amount of storage for their needs.
S Pen: The unique selling point of the Galaxy Note is the S Pen. It’s the S Pen that gives the Galaxy Note its name – a stylus device that can be used for handwriting on the tablet. While other tablets have had pens, they tend to be similar to crayons in functionality – bold and chunky writing, and not particularly responsive.
The S Pen is in a class of its own as tablet styluses go. Not only does it offer fine line quality that can capture your handwriting with absolute precision, but depending on how hard you press down with the stylus you can get a darker or lighter line.
Samsung weren’t only meaning for this to work as a note-taking tool however. It’s meant to work in a similar fashion to a Wacom designer’s tablet that works with Photoshop software. A special Photoshop app has been designed specifically to take advantage of the S Pen, giving you the opportunity to unleash true creativity through this tablet.
Responsive Screen: The Galaxy Note has a very responsive screen, with no delay or difficulty in getting touch commands to register. There’s never a frustrating moment when interacting with this device.
Nice Design: The design of the Galaxy Note is also worth commenting on. It’s a sleek looking device that makes a clear statement of quality. From the clean lines and gloss finish to the back-plate, everything on the Note has been designed with care and attention. This isn’t a product that costs a bomb but looks cheap.
Great For Games: The high speed quad-core processor on board the Note is great for gaming. There’s nothing you can play on an ipad 3, Toshiba Excite or Asus Transformer Prime that you can’t also play on this.
GPS: As with many high-end tablets, this includes full GPS functionality. The GPS is fast and gives an accurate reading within 30 seconds. Not bad!
Good Wi-Fi: Some tablets suffer from Wi-Fi signal issues, meaning that you can’t stray too far from your router if you want to use the internet. Fortunately the Samsung Galaxy Note has great signal pick-up, so you can enjoy it anywhere you’d expect your Wi-Fi to reach.
MicroSD Expansion Slot: Another real strong-point, and one-up over Apple, is the inclusion of a microSD expansion slot. This allows you to expand the storage capacity by up to 32GB, bringing total storage to 64GB. That’s a respectable amount of storage that rivals the iPad 3.
Samsung Galaxy Note: The Cons
No 64GB Option: Despite the capacity for storage expansion through the microSD slot, it’s a shame that Samsung couldn’t have offered a 64GB basic storage option as the Toshiba Excite and iPad 3 both do. That’s a definite downside, especially for a device that’s partially designed for image editing – something that can take up a fair amount of storage space.
Keyboard: This isn’t a big complaint, but the default keyboard on the Note doesn’t feel quite as nice to use as the Galaxy Tab’s Swype keyboard. Perhaps not everyone will share this complaint, but it does seem like a slight downgrade on the older keyboard.
No USB: Perhaps the biggest disappointment with the Note is the lack of any USB ports. Sure, the iPad 3 doesn’t offer these either, but high-end Android devices usually offer USB connection, even if it’s only mini USB. If there’s another Galaxy Note to come, it’d be nice to see Samsung to remedy this.
Is The Samsung Galaxy Note Worth Buying?
The short answer to this question is yes, the Galaxy Note is definitely worth buying. It’s a solid competitor that stands alongside the Toshiba Excite, Asus Transformer Prime and iPad 3, amongst others, while offering its own unique benefits. The main reasons that you might want to choose a different tablet are the limited basic storage option of 32GB, and the lack of USB support. Otherwise, this is a fantastic product.
]]>The Asus Transformer Prime was one of the earliest tablets to offer quad-core technology, which easily set it apart from its competitors. As with all technology, however, rivals were quick to catch up, meaning that the Asus Transformer Prime has to have something else special if it's going to stand out from the crowd. Let’s find out whether the Transformer Prime really is the stand out product that it claims to be, and see if it’s worth buying.
Key Specs For The ASUS Transformer Prime
RRP: $499-$644
Release Year: 2011
Operating System: Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS
Display Size: 10.1 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth
Cameras: 8 MP, 1.2 MP
Battery Life: 12 hours
ASUS Transformer Prime: The Pros
Speed: Perhaps the most basic and obvious feature of the Transformer Prime is its speed. It was the first tablet on the market to offer a quad-core processor which not only improves the speed of the unit but also makes it better at multi-tasking. Even though there are now several rival tablets available with similar processors, the Transformer Prime does still shine when it comes to speed and outclasses many lesser tablets in this regard.
Camera: Not all tablets come with rear-facing cameras, but the Transformer Prime does. Not only that, but its camera is 8MP, the highest resolution on the market today. To compare, the iPad 3’s rear-facing camera is only 5MP. The Transformer Prime takes great images when you’re on the move.
In addition to the rear-facing camera there is also the standard front-facing camera used to have video chats through web services like Gmail video chat and Skype.
Docking Keyboard: Several tablets now offer docking keyboards. These turn the tablet into something more like a netbook by offering an almost full-sized keyboard that allows the tablet to function solely as a screen. Docking keyboards are really great for anyone who likes to write long emails on their tablet. The touch-screen on any tablet naturally lacks at typing when compared with a real keyboard.
There is a downside to the docking keyboard, and that’s that you have to buy it separately. That means you’ll have to spend more money. However, no tablets come with a docking keyboard included, so the Transformer Prime can’t be marked down for this.
Battery Life: The Transformer Prime offers a solid 12 hours of battery life at moderate use. This compares favorably with all other tablets, including the iPad 3. A great additional benefit of the docking keyboard is that it adds an addition 6 hours of battery life to the product, taking it from 12 hours to a remarkable 18 hours of use (that’ll keep you going for a whole day without any trouble).
32GB And 64GB Versions: Most tablets offer two different storage capacities. These are usually 16GB and 32GB, but the Transformer Prime offers 32GB and 64GB making it a cut above most of the competition. The 32GB model offers a decent amount of storage space for a tablet at a reasonable price, but if storage is really important to you then you can buy the 64GB version that matches even the biggest iPad.
MicroSD Card Reader: Unlike the majority of other tablets, including all versions of the iPad 3, the Transformer Prime has a microSD card reader. Not only is this convenient for when you want to transfer files onto your tablet from a camera or computer, but it also means you can expand the storage space of the tablet by up to 32GB. That takes the storage of the top tier Transformer Prime from 64GB up to a whopping (in tablet-terms) 96GB of storage space – the most offered by any tablet.
Size And Weight: Two of the most important features of a tablet, although often taken for granted, are its size and weight. Tablets are meant to be portable, so these make a significant impact on the product’s usability. The Transformer prime is just 0.33” thick, making it one of the thinnest tablets on the market. And at only 1.3 pounds, it’s not too heavy to hold for long periods of time.
Micro HDMI Output: If you like to watch your streaming movies on a high definition TV, then that’s no problem because the Transformer Prime has a micro HDMI output. That means you can connect it to an HDTV for high definition movie playback.
Display: The display on the Transformer Prime is bright and rich, making for a more enjoyable user experience. It certainly outdoes many of its competitors in this respect, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. The screen is also made from tough material making it extremely scratch-resistant.
Design: Perhaps the single biggest point of comparison between all tablets is the design. Apple set the standard with the iPad line, and other companies are doing their best to keep up. The Transformer Prime does a fine job with its all-over aluminum finish, very thin body and general minimalist design that never gets to the point of feeling cold.
ASUS Transformer Prime: The Cons
Fingerprint Magnet: This is a problem common to many tablets, but the Transformer Prime is a bit of a fingerprint magnet. While the aluminum case doesn’t show any fingerprints, the screen and its border do show up a lot of smudge marks. This can be a disappointment for some who like the ultra-clean look.
Rear-Facing Speaker: When it comes to speakers, no tablets are great. However, some are worse than others. The Transformer Prime suffers from the fact that the speakers are placed on the rear of the tablet which increases the likelihood of sound being muffled. Fortunately, the speaker volume is pretty high so it never becomes unusable, but it’s still poorer than tablets that offer front-facing speakers.
Wi-Fi Signal: For most users, there’ll be no problem with using Wi-Fi. However, because of the aluminum back plate which is a design feature known to interfere with signals, the effective Wi-Fi range of the Transformer Prime is lower than some of its rivals. In practice, it’s good to around 30 feet, but becomes less effective after that.
It’s also worth noting here that the Transformer Prime was initially billed as having full GPS. However, as a result of the aluminum back plate they had to withdraw this feature as too many users found that it didn’t work. So if you’re looking for a GPS-ready tablet, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Crashing: Some users have reported experiencing crashes with the Transformer Prime that result in freezing or programs closing. While most tablets, including the iPad, exhibit bugs like this for some users, it’d still be nice if more could be done. If you’re particularly worried about this sort of problem, search around for a tablet known for its software stability.
Is The ASUS Transformer Prime Worth Buying?
Overall it’s hard not to like the Transformer Prime. The problems it suffers from are limited, and it has a lot going for it. However, before settling for this tablet, it’d be worth checking out in detail its competitors – most obviously the iPad 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. After making sure that they don’t offer something you need that this tablet doesn’t, you can rest assured that this is a good purchase and won’t disappoint.
]]>The Toshiba Excite AT305T16 is one of the newest tablets from Toshiba. It’s a 10.1” tablet with storage options up to 64GB, and with a powerful quad core processor it’s got its eyes set on the iPad 3 as its main rival. That’s a tall order to say the least, as Apple have yet to be seriously competed with in the tablet race. However, the Toshiba Excite may be able to change this, so let’s se what it can offer.
Key Specs For The Toshiba Excite AT305T16
RRP: $369-$649
Release Year: 2012
Operating System: Android 4.0
Display Size: 10.1 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
Cameras: 5 MP, 2 MP
Battery Life: 10 hours
Toshiba Excite: The Pros
Fast: With the quad core Tegra 3 processor on board, this tablet is fast. Seriously fast. It’s one of the fastest tablets on the market, competing with other high end devices like the iPad 3 and Asus Transformer Prime. Speed like that is great for gaming, and makes the user experience smooth with great load times and no lag.
Multitasking: Another benefit of the processor in the Excite AT305T16 is the boost it gives to multitasking. If you’re big on multitasking – using your tablet for lots of different things at once like playing music while viewing photos and searching the web – then this will meet your demands. Quad core processors are fast becoming the standard for tablets, and this is precisely why.
Even with several tasks going on at the same time, you won’t experience any slow down or lag with the Excite. It’s a seriously smooth device offering high-end performance to intensive users.
Full SD Card Slot: Unlike nearly all other tablets, including the iPad 3, this tablet comes with a full SD card slot. Having this allows you to expand the memory of the tablet by up to 32GB, which in itself is a great thing and isn’t offered by all that many other tablets. But the full-size SD card slot also has the much bigger benefit of allowing you to take an SD card out of your camera or video camera etc. and place it directly into the tablet to view your photos and video.
That means you don’t need to bother with the additional hassle of transferring files from your standard SD card onto a microSD card before you can put them onto your tablet. This is ready to go without any hesitation.
16GB / 32GB / 64GB Options: Whether you need lots of memory, or only a small amount to meet your needs, the Toshiba Excite has you covered. It comes in three different options – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. High-end users on a big budget are well catered for by the 64GB option that competes with the iPad 3 for storage space. For those on a tighter budget or who really don’t use much storage space on their tablets, the 16GB option is great. The 32GB option is a great half-way point between these two needs, reducing costs without limiting storage space too much.
Gorilla Glass: One of the most sought-after features of tablets these days, Gorilla Glass is a very tough, damage resistant glass used on tablet screens. It’s pretty much the best kind of screen material to have, offering the greatest amount of protection to the vulnerable touch screen. You don’t need to worry about scratching the screen on this tablet.
Solid Build: The aluminum construction of this tablet gives it a really solid frame. This device feels like it’s built to last, and has the compact sturdiness that you’d expect from an expensive high-end product.
Good Wi-Fi Signal: Another important feature of a tablet is how well it picks up Wi-Fi signals. The Toshiba Excite is great on this front, with solid signals even at quite a distance.
Battery: The battery in this tablet is pretty good. Under heavy usage it should last 7+ hours, and with moderate use it should last all day without needing to be recharged.
GPS: GPS is becoming a more and more sought-after feature of tablets, and the Toshiba Excite handles this well. The GPS in this tablet is quick and responsive, offering accurate positioning in well under a minute.
Image Quality: The image quality of the Toshiba Excite is excellent. Images look crisp and sharp, and colors are nicely balanced so that they’re neither too cold or too warm.
Toshiba Excite: The Cons
Light Bleed: This device suffers from a lot of light bleed – a problem widespread and not confined to a relatively small number of faulty units. Some people don’t care about light bleed, but others do. This is especially true when you’re paying a lot of money, as quality expectations are much higher. The light bleed on this is probably the worst of the high-end tablets, and is clearly visible on images with dark backgrounds.
Proprietary Charger: Although it’s not exactly the end of the world, it’s still annoying that the Excite uses a proprietary charger. This makes charging the device more awkward that it needs to be, as a microUSB charger would do the job just as well without the need for special equipment that only clutters up your house!
Pre-Installed Apps: The pre-installed apps on the Toshiba can be annoying. There are quite a lot of them, which obviously take up space slow the machine down slightly. The good news is that a lot of them can be uninstalled. The bad news is that there are some which can’t be uninstalled. With those the only option is to disable them.
Is The Toshiba Excite Worth Buying?
Overall, this is a really excellent tablet and certainly a decent alternative to the iPad 3. If you’re an Android fan but don’t want to lose out to the smooth operation of an iPad 3, this could be the choice for you. The only major let down is the light bleed. If you’re someone who really takes issue with light bleed, then you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. But otherwise, don’t hesitate to buy this tablet.
]]>Sony, the long-time stalwart of high-end technology devices, have their own tablet aimed at competing with other top-level tablets from Samsung, Asus, Toshiba and Apple. The SGPT111US/S, otherwise known as the “Tablet S”, offers typical Sony stylishness, but does it stand up to the competition in practical terms? Let’s have a look.
Key Specs For The Sony Tablet S
RRP: $399
Release Year: 2011
Operating System: Android Honeycomb
Display Size: 9.4 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
Cameras: 5 MP, 0.3 MP
Battery Life: 6 hours
Sony Tablet S: The Pros
Screen: The screen on the Sony Tablet S offers a different aspect ratio to other tablets on the market. Whereas most tablets, including the iPad 3, are set to 4:3 aspect ratio, the Tablet S uses a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is the ratio used for widescreen movies, which makes this device much better suited to movie viewing than its rivals. The 16:9 ratio also feels preferable for reading books, as it more closely replicates the shape of the typical real-life page.
Image Quality: Not only is the aspect ratio suited for watching movies, but the image quality is fantastic, adding further to the experience. Colors are vivid and clean. This device uses Sony Bravia technology – the same found in their television product range – to generate the best images possible.
Full-Size SD Slot: One of the best things about this tablet, although seemingly small, is the inclusion of a full-size SD memory card slot. This makes it one of only two or three tablets that do this, really helping it to stand out. The advantage of a full-size SD slot is that you can take the memory card straight out of your camera or video camera and plug it straight into the tablet for image and video viewing. It’s great not to have to go through an intermediate process of transferring your photos and other files onto a microSD card first.
The other advantage to this is that full-size SD cards are significantly cheaper than their microSD equivalents.
5MP Rear-Facing Camera: For those who like their tablet to double up as a camera, the Sony Tablet S does the job. There’s a built-in rear-facing 5MP camera that captures large images for those times when you’re out and about without a separate camera.
16GB And 32GB Storage Options: As with many other tablets, including the Galaxy Note from Samsung, the Sony Tablet S offers two basic storage options. The 16GB option is great when you need to stick to a budget and don’t want to store much content on the tablet itself, preferring cloud storage solutions. The 32GB option is slightly more expensive, but offers a better basic storage capacity that’s works well for anyone intending to download a lot of data onto the device, or store movies on it.
PlayStation Certified: As with one of the recent Sony Ericsson Xperia smart-phones, the Tablet S is PlayStation certified. So for Sony gaming fans, this is a great device. It offers a range of PlayStation favourites, as well as plenty of new games.
Design: Sony are a company that puts a lot of emphasis on product design. This tablet is fairly unique, with a wedge shape that makes it great to hold and interesting to look at. The continuous plastic runs from the bottom of the front up and around the top and then down the back of the device is especially flash, and really gives the product a stand-out look of quality.
USB Port: This tablet comes with a mini USB port which is a useful feature lacked by most other tablets. A full-size USB would be better, but a mini USB is still a step up over the competition.
Sony Tablet S: The Cons
Dual-Core: The Sony Tablet S is somewhat less expensive than the top-end rivals, but it’s only got a dual core processor which doesn’t compete well with top-end current tablets like the new iPad, the Asus Prime, Galaxy Note and so on.
While lacking quad-core isn’t everything, it does mean that as apps get more technologically demanding the Sony Tablet S might struggle to keep up.
Camera: Although the rear-facing camera is 5MP, it doesn’t capture detail well, even in good lighting conditions. This is a bit of a disappointment, especially from a company that specialises in camera technology.
Dim Screen: Although the image quality on the Tablet S is great, the brightness is a little bit on the weak side. It’d be nice to have something brighter, that displays more effectively in outdoor lighting conditions and just generally does more justice to the quality of images it otherwise displays.
Old Android: For the Android faithful, this tablet will be a let-down as it runs on a fairly old version of Android. While most current tablets are on Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich or above, this tablet still runs on Android 3.2 Honeycomb.
Not 10.1”: The large tablet standard size is 10.1”, but this tablet is only 9.4”. That’s noticeably smaller, and reduces the viewing area significantly. While some find that this is a more optimal size to use for a range or reasons, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a smaller display, which might disappoint some.
Is The Sony Tablet S Worth Buying?
This is a feature-rich tablet that outdoes many competitors in terms of what’s on offer but suffers from some notable setbacks. Whether it’s worth buying largely depends on how much power you think you’ll need from your tablet and whether you’re happy to run on an older version of Android that other tablets are using. So long as you’re content with those things, and the fact that the display is slightly smaller overall than large size tablet rivals, then this is a great tablet, well worth the money for all its great features and lovely unique design.
]]>After the original iPad was released, Samsung was one of the first companies to come out with a competitor. The Samsung Galaxy Tablet competed head to head with the iPad 2 in the second wave of tablet devices, comparing favorably. So how does the Galaxy Tab 2 compare with other tablets in the newest wave of tablet releases? Let’s have a closer look.
Key Specs For The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
RRP: $249.99 - $399.99
Release Year: 2012
Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Display Size: 7 inches/ 10.1 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Cameras: 5 MP/ 8 MP
Battery Life: 7 hours/ 10 hours
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2: The Pros
Speed: One of the strongest features of the Galaxy Tab 2 is its speed. Even though the processor isn’t a powerhouse like that found in the iPad 3 or Asus Transformer Prime, it still handles itself well, offering a great user experience that doesn’t suffer from lag. It may not be quite up to the high standards of the aforementioned tablet superstars, but then it’s not carrying the same price tag either.
Interface: Sure, the iPad’s iOS interface is great, but it’s not the only option out there. The interface offered by the Galaxy Tab 2 is an Android-based dream, being super easy to use and keeping the user experience smooth and enjoyable throughout.
Sound: Most tablets suffer from poor sound, but the sound quality offered by the Galaxy Tab 2 in surprisingly good. It certainly beats its competitors in this area. That’s because the speaker set up on the Galaxy Tab 2 is front-facing and stereo – meaning there is one speaker on each side of the screen. The stereo sound improves the quality no end, which is a big plus for those who enjoy listening to their music without earphones.
MicroSD Slot: Unlike many rivals, including the iPad 3, the Galaxy Tab 2 offers a microSD card slot. This is a great bonus for a device that’s got fairly small storage capacity on board. Having this slot lets you take the Galaxy Tab 2 from 16GB of storage to 48GB of storage – a full 32GB more.
7” And 10” Version: To cater to those who like their tablets more portable, Samsung offer the Galaxy Tab 2 in 2 different sizes. The 10.1” version compares with standard tablets like the iPad 3, while the 7” version sacrifices relatively little to offer a much more portable experience.
Display: Samsung usually offer high quality displays, and the Galaxy Tab 2 is no exception. Although it’s not the best on the market, it still gives beautiful pictures that leave lots of its rivals in the dust. If the quality of display is important to you, this’ll satisfy.
Size: For a 10.1 inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab 2 is small. When measured up against other 10.1” tablets the dimensions are noticeably different, and this makes it that bit more portable than its rivals. For those who find it difficult to carry a regular tablet around, this should help alleviate the problem a bit.
Battery Life: The Galaxy Tab 2 has a decent battery life. That’s important for any portable device, and it means you won’t be left with no power while out and about. More importantly, the battery compares favorably with rival products, so you aren’t losing out on battery life by picking this tablet over another.
Price: It’s impossible not to mention the price of the Galaxy Tab 2, which is low to say the least. It undercuts high-end rival products by anywhere from a third to a half of the price which they go for, making it the affordable option. If you’re on a tight budget, this is a great choice.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2: The Cons
Charge Time: Although the Galaxy Tab 2 has a long battery life, it suffers from a long charge time. While overnight charging will bring the battery back to full power, if the tablet runs out mid-way through the day you’ll have to wait quite a while before it’s got enough juice to take back out with you.
Charging Cable: For some unknown reason the Galaxy Tab 2 comes with an especially short charging cable. This can be a source of real frustration, especially if you don’t have any well-placed power points around your house. If you want to use your tablet while it’s charging, the short charging cable will make that very awkward.
Storage: Although the storage space is expandable thanks to the microSD card slot, the included storage space of 16GB is a little on the small side – especially since there’s no bigger option. If you need lots of memory, you may have to look to a different tablet.
Only Slightly More Powerful Than Original Galaxy: In order to keep costs down as much as possible, the Galaxy Tab 2 hasn’t improved its hardware significantly over the original Samsung Galaxy tablet. That’s the trade-off for the low price of this device, but don’t expect any big surprises if you already own an original Samsung Galaxy.
Faults: Unfortunately there are quite a high number of user-reported product faults. While it’s often the case that these faults happen within the product return window, if they don’t then you may have to pay a fair bit to have the tablet repaired.
Is The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Worth Buying?
If you’re sticking to a budget but still want a large-size tablet, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is a good choice. However, if you can afford to buy an Asus Transformer Prime or iPad 3 don’t think you’ll be getting the same quality when spending less for the Galaxy Tab 2.
]]>The Kindle Fire marks the entry of Amazon into the competitive tablet market. This is a fairly unique move as Amazon are not strictly a technology hardware company, although in the last few years they have been branching into this realm with their e-reader product line. The Kindle Fire is a small tablet in the same category as the Google Nexus 7, but differs by way of its price and content services. The question is, does Amazon’s tablet compete effectively with market veterans? Read on to find out.
Key Specs For The Kindle Fire
RRP: $199
Release Year: 2012
Operating System: Android 2.3
Display Size: 7 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi+ 3G
Cameras: n/a
Battery Life: 7.5 hours
Kindle Fire: The Pros
Speed: The Kindle Fire is one of the faster tablets on the market. Since the upgraded version was released in 2012 this has only become more true. With the Kindle Fire, you’ll find yourself opening up apps and zooming around the menu system without a moment’s pause. That’s great news for people who find lag a big downer on their tablets.
Responsiveness: Along with its speed, the Kindle Fire is also one of the more responsive tablets on the market. That means it reacts to your touch commands without too much of a delay – a problem often reported among the lower-end tablets available. This makes the user experience more enjoyable, and improves the feel of the device.
Easy To Type: The Kindle Fire’s virtual keyboard is relatively easy to type on when compared with other tablets. Of course, there is always a degree of user-preference when judging these things, but on the whole it seems fair to say that the Fire’s keyboard is superior to many other low-end tablets.
Tough Display: One of the biggest concerns with any portable product that has a large screen is the resilience of the screen material. Nobody wants their expensive gadget to get damaged or look a mess, and screens are commonly exposed to environments in which this could happen. The Kindle Fire uses a very tough Gorilla Glass display that can hold up to some serious punishment without looking any worse for wear.
Weight: At 0.9 pounds the Kindle Fire undercuts most tablets for weight by some margin. This is partly due to it being a 7” screen tablet of course, but even when compared to others of a similar size it fares well.
USB Port: Despite its size, the Kindle Fire manages to include a USB port in its design. That’s a great strength as it makes it much easier to manage files on the device through a USB memory stick. This is something that you won't find on many of the top tablet rivals.
Amazon Prime: While other tablets are able to interface with Amazon Prime services, the Kindle Fire does it perfectly. That’s because it’s been designed from the ground up with this in mind. Amazon Prime membership is $79 per year, and allows you unlimited streaming movie content, as well as a selection of free e-books to borrow, tons of music, games and more. The Kindle Fire is an Amazon content delivery system!
Price: Ok, this should be obvious, but the Kindle Fire is a steal at just $199. That alone could make it worth buying!
Kindle Fire: The Cons
Storage: The biggest let down of the Kindle Fire is probably its storage capacity. Although it technically has a capacity of 8GB, the operating system takes up a large chunk of that, leaving only about 6GB free for user content. That’s small to say the least! When compared to most rivals it’s less than half the storage available (much, much less if you’re also including the large tablets).
The USB slot makes up for this to some extent by allowing you to use a USB memory stick for extra storage. However, USB transfer rates aren’t the fastest, so it can be annoying if you’re dealing with large files.
There is free cloud storage for all Amazon content, so if you’re mainly using this as an Amazon content interface you won’t have a problem. However, for more than that the memory is somewhat restrictive.
Battery Life: The battery life for the Kindle Fire isn’t that great. With moderate use it can last for 7 – 8 hours, but with the Wi-Fi switched on this plummets way down. Since tablets are pretty much meant for wireless connectivity, this could be problematic. It’s also an issue if you want to use this as an e-reader, which is at least partly what Amazon intends it to be used for.
Not Good In Bright Light: If you like to use your tablet in outdoor environments, or especially if you like to read e-books in the garden on a sunny day, you’ll struggle with the Kindle Fire. The display suffers considerably from reflection, and the brightness isn’t sufficient to make up for it.
Amazon Prime: While Amazon Prime is a great service in itself, viewing movies on the Kindle Fire isn’t without its problems. Because Amazon Prime content cannot be downloaded, only streamed, you aren’t able to watch Amazon Prime content while on the move. If you want streaming content, you’ve got to be connected to Wi-Fi.
Restricted Content: Although the Kindle Fire is Android based, it doesn’t support all Android Native apps. It’s also restricted as to which online media services it can connect with (a tactic to encourage membership of Amazon Prime). This is certainly an annoying limitation when compared to other tablets.
Is The Kindle Fire Worth Buying?
The Kindle Fire is worth buying if you’re a die-hard Amazon fan with Amazon Prime membership. It does give you access to all kinds of great content from a single source so it’s hard to beat in that respect. However, it has been designed primarily with Amazon Prime in mind, so it falls short in some other key areas such as storage capacity. If you want flexibility, then you’re better off looking elsewhere, but if you’re happy to stick with Amazon Prime content then you could do a lot, lot worse, especially at this appealingly low price.
]]>Google first teamed up with Asus in order to create a laptop computer line. The next logical step from there was obviously tablets, and Google now have their very own line of tablet products, manufactured by Asus, to complement their laptop range. The Google Nexus 7 isn’t designed to compete with the big boys like the iPad 3 and Asus’ own device, the Transformer Prime. Instead, it slots in alongside other mini-tablets like the Kindle Fire and the small Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 edition. So how does it fare against these? Let’s take a look.
Key Specs For The Google Nexus 7
RRP: $254
Release Year: 2012
Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Display Size: 7 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Cameras: 8 hours
Battery Life: 1.2 MP
Google Nexus 7: The Pros
Speed: The Google Nexus 7 is nothing if not fast. You’ll notice this in all aspects of performance, from start-up time to app loading times, and menu navigation too. Everything runs smoothly and seamlessly, and it’s clear that Google have tried hard to make this a killer device.
Multi-tasking: One problem that tablets have faced since their inception is how they handle multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is the ability to run several programs simultaneously, and switch between them. For example, you’re multi-tasking when you’re browsing the internet at the same time as listening to music and writing in an office word processing app.
Thanks to the powerful multi-core processor at the heart of the Google Nexus 7, multi-tasking works perfectly, allowing you to switch back and forth with ease between several different apps. This is something it really shines at, and it definitely has a slight edge over its competitors.
Screen: Much is made of the screens on tablets – unsurprisingly since they’re such a prominent feature of any tablet’s design. Screens vary a lot, and many are vulnerable to damage and smudge marks. The screen on the Google Nexus 7 is high quality. It looks like an expensive piece of equipment, and it’s very tough which helps to ensure it won’t get any ugly scratch marks that spoil the tablet’s sleek appearance.
Image Quality: As well as having a great screen, the quality of images displayed is excellent. The images are rich and sharp, offering everything what we’ve come to expect from good quality tablets.
Front Camera: The Google Nexus 7 has a nice front-facing camera for video calls through the internet. The image quality is great, so your family and friends will always get a good view of you whenever you’re chatting with them.
GPS And Bluetooth: Unlike many tablets the Nexus 7 offers true GPS. This is an excellent feature, and it works well in practice. In addition, the Nexus 7 also offers Bluetooth connectivity, which makes it great for interfacing with other devices.
Cheap: Setting its sights firmly on the Kindle Fire, the Google Nexus 7 comes starts at just $199 – the same price as the Kindle Fire. This makes it a strong competitor, and certainly adds a great deal to its allure.
8GB Or 16GB Version: As with many tablets, the Google Nexus 7 comes in two different storage sizes: 8GB and 16GB. The 8GB version matches the Kindle Fire, while the 16GB version outstrips it considerably, and matches the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 edition. For a small tablet, 16GB is a great storage size.
No Restrictions Unlike Kindle Fire: Whereas the Kindle Fire has many restrictions on app compatibility and online streaming service functionality, the Google Nexus 7 works seamlessly with all options. Thanks to having the standard Android installation you are able to customize the Nexus 7 as you wish. In addition, all native Android apps are supported. It’s certainly more flexible than the Kindle Fire in this regard.
Google Nexus 7: The Cons
No Rear-Facing Camera: One let down of the Google Nexus 7 is the lack of a rear-facing camera. This brings it up short against larger tablets, although it doesn’t make it suffer against its immediate competition the Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. Still, if you’re after a tablet that can double up as a camera when you’re out and about with it, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
No Memory Expansion Slots: Unfortunately the Google Nexus 7 doesn’t have any memory expansion slots in the form of microSD or USB ports. That’s a significant limitation when you’ve only got a maximum of 16GB available to start with.
No 3G / 4G Option: If you’re after high-speed internet access while on the move you’ll have to look to a more expensive alternative, as the Nexus 7 doesn’t offer 3G or 4G connectivity. For anything like that, you really need to look at the more expensive and larger tablets.
No Mini HDMI Out: If you’re hoping to connect your tablet out to an HD TV to watch streaming HD movies or view high resolution photos, you’ll be disappointed. The Google Nexus 7 doesn’t have a mini HDMI out port, so this just isn’t possible.
Is The Google Nexus 7 Worth Buying?
Overall, the Galaxy Nexus 7 is a great little tablet. Of the mini tablets, it’s certainly one of the best – offering greater flexibility than the Kindle Fire. You just need to beware of the limited memory and lack of a camera. If either of those is a big deal to you, or you’re really after super-powerful performance, you’ll need to look to larger tablets.
]]>The Coby Kyros is a budget tablet that doesn’t try to rival the big players. Instead it offers a decent range of features that try to tackle other low-end tablets like the Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7. Coby are a well-established, though not widely known, technology company who have been in the business for over a decade and have plenty of experience. So can they deliver? Let’s find out.
Key Specs For The Coby Kyros
RRP: $289.99
Release Year: 2012
Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Display Size: 10.1 inches
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Cameras: VGA 1.0MP
Battery Life: 7 hours
Coby Kyros: The Pros
Several Size Options: One of the most unique things about the Coby Kyros is that it comes in several size options. This is in contrast to most other devices which tend to come in a maximum of two size options, and emphasize storage options instead.
However, the Coby Kyros doesn’t offer any storage options, instead putting the exact same technology into 5 different sized tablets. The available sizes are 7 inches, 8 inches, 9 inches, 9.7 inches and 10.1 inches. 7 inches and 10.1 inches are industry standard sizes, but those in between are uncommon.
Size is pretty much always a trade off. The biggest screen is best in terms of actual use. It’s the optimal size for watching movies and playing games, and makes menu navigation easier too. However, large size means less portability. So the Coby Kyros offers a range of trade-offs between size and portability to suit any individual.
MicroSD Slot: MicroSD slots are becoming a more and more common feature on tablets. Apple still don’t offer any kind of SD card slots, or USB ports, on their tablets, but many of the Android tablets now do. The Coby Kyros is no exception, and it’s a real benefit.
While the Kyros itself comes with only 8GB or storage (like the Kindle Fire), the microSD slot allows you to expand this storage by up to 32GB, giving you a maximum total storage of 40GB. That’s a decent amount for a tablet, offering ample space to store several movies, lots of photos and plenty of apps.
Cheap: It’s only fair to mention that the Coby Kyros is really cheap, which makes it a far more attractive option that it otherwise would be. It retails at a little over the Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7, but prices are constantly changing so it’s worth checking this out.
By lowering the price into the same range as these other devices, the Coby Kyros poses a direct challenge. It’s main advantage over the other two are the larger size options that are available.
Responsive Screen: The touch screen on the Kyros is very responsive, making it easy to use and navigate through menus etc. This is important, and does mark it out against some other budget tablets which suffer from a lack of responsiveness that can become very frustrating.
No Lag: While some budget tablets suffer from lag (and even some non-budget tablets for that matter!), the Coby Kyros performs very well. Changing between applications is always quick, and never slows down or freezes. The Kyros is a consistent performer on this front.
Coby Kyros: The Cons
8GB Storage: As with several other budget tablets, the Coby Kyros only has 8GB on-board storage. That means that, out of the box, you could store around 6 movies on the Kyros, or a couple thousand songs. That’s actually not that much – even an iPod, which is used for music and occasionally video, offers far far more than this.
While it’s possible to expand the storage of the Kyros using a microSD card, it’s still annoying to have just 8GB of storage to start with.
No Rear Camera: This won’t bother everyone, but for those who like their tablets to double up as a camera the Kyros won’t do the trick. There is no rear-facing camera on the Kyros, so the only images it can capture are taken through the front-facing camera that’s around 1MP resolution and is meant for video conversation.
No Google Play: For some this will be a pretty big deal. The Kyros doesn’t support Google Play – the Google apps store. That means you can’t download anything available only through Google Play, and are limited to the competitors like Amazon’s online store for apps. This is a really odd move for the Kyros given that it’s not affiliated with any particular service provider. If you’re a Google Play fan, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Speakers: The speakers on the Kyros are situated on the back of the device. This interferes with the clarity of the sound and also reduces the efficiency of the volume. While the Kyros isn’t the only tablet to make this unusual design decision, most of the others offer a better all-round package.
Is The Coby Kyros Worth Buying?
On the whole, the Kyros might be worth buying if you’re looking to stick to a tight budget and aren’t interested in the Kindle Fire or Google Nexus 7. The Google Nexus 7 almost certainly wins out over the Kyros in terms of performance and flexibility, but the Kindle Fire is a closer contest. Either way, the Kyros isn’t the greatest of tablets so make sure you research it thoroughly before committing to its purchase.
]]>Cost can be a concern for a boat owner since a marine GPS receiver has a considerable cost attached to it. Not all people can easily afford one right away. Others may still find radars and traditional charts, maps and other navigational tools useful. A GPS device may also be unnecessary for some boat owners that only navigate for recreation. These people can simply use an iPhone marine app as their marine GPS. It is fairly affordable and easy to bring along. When going out to sea you can use it as a GPS. If not, you can always use the iPhone for personal and recreational purposes.
iPhone marine apps may also be configured to be able to plot and pre-plan routes. Charts and data can be saved and later on used for navigation. One may experience ease in navigation with plotted routes that are easy to follow. It is also possible to get latest weather conditions and informtaion from the apps. The information can function as a safety warning or precaution because you’ll be able to know which areas and waters are dangerous, risky and must be avoided. You can easily choose an alternative route to be able to travel your way away from danger.
To be able to run apps, you may be concerned about Wi-Fi connection. Marine apps can still function offline. Charts, routes and data can still be accessible.
If they are interested in using a marine GPS receiver, they can try using an iPhone marine app first before purchasing a GPS Garmin Marine or Furuno marine product. They can find out whether using a GPS device is suitable to their methods of navigation. If they think they will really need and enjoy having a GPS receiver when they tried with an iPhone app then they take the next step and purchase a handheld or mounted GPS device.
Devices like iPhones are not exactly water proof. You might want to take extra care when using them in sea navigation.
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